Larry Blyden Movies
- 1974
In this thriller, a wife gets tired of her husband's constant verbal abuse and convinces a cultist to kill him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Desperate for money to keep their troubled marriage afloat, Frank and Elizabeth Colling (Larry Blyden, Lois Nettleton) kidnap 7-year-old Jimmy Bowden (Brian Dewey) and hold him for ransom. Ironically, while the kidnapping merely intensifies Elizabeth's neuroses and exacerbates Frank's drinking problem, the ordeal brings the victim's estranged parents Anne (Joan Hotchkiss) and James (Lee Bergere) closer together. This F.B.I. episode is unique in at least one respect: the truck seen in the opening sequence is a Dodge rather than a Ford! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- G
- Add On a Clear Day You Can See Forever to QueueAdd On a Clear Day You Can See Forever to top of Queue
Vincente Minnelli directed, and Alan Jay Lerner adapted the stage musical he had written with Burton Lane, for this this feature film version. Barbra Streisand stars as Daisy Gamble, a chain smoker who, at the urging of her uptight fiance Warren (Larry Blyden), seeks help in kicking the habit from a psychiatrist, Dr. Marc Chabot (Yves Montand). While undergoing hypnosis, however, Daisy and Dr. Chabot discover that she is clairvoyant and can remember a past life as a 19th century heiress named Melinda. As their sessions continue, Dr. Chabot falls in love not with Daisy, but Melinda, while Daisy begins to fall for Chabot and decides she's had enough of Warren. Excised from the final cut of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) was a musical number performed by Jack Nicholson, who costars as Daisy's stepbrother. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbra Streisand, Yves Montand, (more)
- 1965
Though he is using the alias "Joe Warren", Richard Kimble (David Janssen) is recognized by Sal Mitchell (Larry Blyden), a seedy nightclub performer who has a mind-reading act. Hoping to drum up publicity, Mitchell plans to arrange for Kimble's capture, thereby make it appear as if his "powers" are genuine. Crucial to the success of the scheme is a subtle accomplice, who likewise using an alias is posing as Kimble's current travelling companion. Appearing as Mitchell's wife Joan is Joanna Moore, onetime wife of actor Ryan O'Neal and the mother of child star Tatum O'Neal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Dumped by his girlfriend because she thinks he's a crashing bore, Walter Mills (Larry Blyden) decides to completely alter his looks and personality. Thus, he grows a beard and rechristens himself "Philip Marshall," and it is in this guise that he gets mixed up with the attractive Noreen Kimberly (Kathie Browne). Unfortunately, Noreen has a jealous boyfriend named Curly (Berkeley Harris), who threatens to tell Noreen that Walter is a phony -- unless our "hero" joins Curly in a plot to smuggle some stolen jewels out of the country. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Blyden, Kathie Browne, (more)
- 1962
Larry Blyden stars in this hilarious Twilight Zone entry as egocentric TV western star Rance McGrew, who, while filming a fight scene, is knocked cold by a prop bottle. Upon awakening, Rance finds himself in the real west, circa 1880 -- and at the mercy of none other than Jesse James (Arch Johnson). It seems that old Jesse isn't too thrilled as to how he and his fellow outlaws have been depicted on Rance's series, and he intends to teach the vainglorious actor a lesson. Best line: "And you won an Emmy? Shoot, you can't act any better than you can draw!" This episode reunited two alumni of the classic 1951 sci-fi thriller The Thing: actor Robert Cornthwaite, and director Christian Nyby. Scripted by Rod Serling from an idea by Frederic Louis Fox (which in its original form wasn't a comedy at all), "Showdown with Rance McGrew" first aired February 2, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Blyden, Arch Johnson, (more)
- 1960
Shot down while escaping the cops, two-bit hoodlum Rocky Valentine (Larry Blyden) awakens to find a jovial, bearded fellow named Mr. Pip (Sebastian Cabot) standing over him. Realizing that he is now dead, Rocky assumes that Pip is his guardian angel, an assumption "proven" when Rocky is transported to an idyllic world where his every wish is granted. Before long, however, Rocky's good fortune turns out to be too much of a good thing -- and in addition, appearances can be very, very deceiving. Written by Charles Beaumont, this morbidly comic Twilight Zone episode was originally to have starred Mickey Rooney; at one point, Beaumont jokingly suggested that series creator Rod Serling step into the role of Rocky Valentine before Larry Blyden was decided upon. "A Nice Place to Visit" was originally telecast April 15, 1960. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Blyden, Sebastian Cabot, (more)
Academy Award-winning director Delbert Mann adapts author Budd Shulberg's scathing critique of the Hollywood studio system to the small screen in this drama originally aired as part of the NBC anthology series Sunday Showcase. Sammy Glick (Larry Blyden) may be an amoral hustler, but sometimes that's what it takes to make it in Hollywood. Seizing an opportunity to work his way up through the ranks, a lowly copy boy quickly gains a reputation as one of the most powerful players in town. Completely restored and remastered, the entire two-part broadcast of What Makes Sammy Run? provides a new generation the opportunity to finally experience a long lost Hollywood classic. John Forsythe, Barbara Rush, and Dina Merrill co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Blyden
- 1957
Future Tonight Show host Johnny Carson made one of his rare acting appearances in this 1957 Playhouse 90 adaptation of George Abbott and John Cecil Holm's 1935 stage farce Three Men on a Horse. Carson plays Erwin Trowbridge, a henpecked husband who makes his living writing sappy verse for a greeting-card company. Erwin also possesses a unique gift: The ability to pick winning race horses (though he would never, ever dare to bet on one). It is thus inevitable that our hero would find himself genteely abducted by a trio of Runyonesque horse players who hang out in a seedy bar. Only one problem: Since there's money involved, Erwin's picking prowess is stymied--so the gamblers must figure out a way to get him over his mental block. Jack Carson (no relation to Johnny), Carol Channing and Edward Everett Horton are among the outstanding supporting players in this delightful comedy, which also features Frank McHugh, who'd starred as Erwin in the 1936 film version of Three Men on a Horse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Carson, Carol Channing, (more)
- 1957
Like his earlier Marty, Paddy Chayefsky's The Bachelor Party began life as a TV play. The film version centers around the impending wedding of thirtyish Arnold (Philip Abbott). As they gather for the traditional "wild" bachelor party, Arnold's married pals begin reflecting on their own lives. Most of what develops is seen through the eyes of Charlie Samson (Don Murray), a staid bookkeeper who intends to cut loose at Arnold's premarital bacchanale. The unexpected pathetic figure in the proceedings is Walter (E. G. Marshall), a self-described "swinger" who after a few drinks bursts out in a uncontrolled fit of self-loathing. Though by necessity their characters are secondary, the women in The Bachelor Party--including Nancy Marchand, Patricia Smith, and Karen Norris - also reveal their true natures in ways both mundane and profound. Particularly memorable is Carolyn Jones in a brilliant, Oscar-nominated turn as a "good time girl" with whom Charlie Samson briefly dallies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Murray, E.G. Marshall, (more)
Luther Davis' racy wartime comedy Kiss Them for Me was expurgated a bit for the 1957 film version. Cary Grant, Ray Walston and Larry Blyden portray three navy war heroes who've been booked on a morale-building "vacation" in San Francisco. Eluding their ulcerated public relations officer (Werner Klemperer), the trio arranges a wild party with plenty of pretty girls. Cary Grant is paired with knockout Suzy Parker, an icy socialite who eventually thaws under his charms. Also on hand is Jayne Mansfield, playing a "good time girl" whose profession was a bit more explicit in the original play; the role was originated by Judy Holliday, who brought a wistfulness to the character that Ms. Mansfield couldn't quite manage. TV sitcom fans will get a kick out of the supporting cast of Kiss Them For Me: Ray Walston, later star of My Favorite Martian plays a libertine navy officer; Werner Klemperer, shorn of the accent he'd use as Colonel Klink in Hogan's Heroes, is hilarious as the flustered p.r. man; and Richard Deacon (Leave It to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show) pops up unbilled as a dour businessman who can't understand the war-hero mystique. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Suzy Parker, (more)
